Cotham School Governors
To contact the governors please email governanceprofessional@cotham.bristol.sch.uk
Dora Alderson
Governor Appointed by Members - Term of office 18 December 2021 to 17 December 2025
I have been a governor since the early 1990s, when I was a Parent governor and member of the COMPAS parent support group for music, drama and dance. I am now a Member Appointed governor and, as former Chair of the Personnel & Training Committee, I have contributed to the strategic decisions of the Governing Body on Human Resources issues. I have many years’ experience of teaching geography and politics at secondary level here in Bristol and have a keen interest in current issues of teaching and learning, which I bring to the Learning and Wellbeing Committee. I am concerned to support the school in developing pathways to success for all students, whatever their abilities and interests.
Isabel Tobias
Governor Appointed by Members - Term of office 12 December 2020 to 11 December 2024
Chair of Personnel and Training Committe
I am a recently retired headteacher living in the Redland area, and thus I am very aware of the school’s strong profile and the positive impact it has on so many young people’s lives. I am privileged to now be a part of the governing body that oversees and supports Cotham’s Principal and her staff to this end. As a teacher of many years, I bring extensive professional experience of working with young people and understanding their developmental, academic and mental health needs. As a recent head I also bring a deep understanding of the pressures on teachers and headteachers and commitment to providing the best possible educational experience to students; active experience of the scrutiny and compliance needed in all areas of education, and of HR processes in making appointments and managing staff at all levels. I bring experience of strategic planning and management and implementing change, and overseeing seeing many new capital projects.
Jack Barber
Co-opted Governor - Term of office 8 December 2022 to 7 December 2026
I started at Cotham in 2016 as a science teacher, and have quickly got involved with every aspect of school life, running clubs, and trips, being Head of House and worked to help keep this school a fun and enjoyable place for staff and students alike. To keep this going and hopefully help more I was elected as one of three staff governors. I am not afraid to speak my mind and want to help ensure the best outcomes for all staff and students.
I love this school and want to help its development in any way I can. A colleague here said to me ‘as soon as you understand why a decision has been made, it makes it easy to support’ and I believe I can make this happen. I have worked at a number of schools across the country and have never been in a school that is as student focused as this one.
Jo Butler
Headteacher
Jo Butler joined Cotham as headteacher in September 2015.
Lucy Hunt
Governor Appointed by Members - Term of office 14 December 2021 to 13 December 2025
Chair of Post 16 Committee
I joined the Governing Body as a Parent Governor in 2018 and became a member appointed in 2022 with a focus on Safeguarding and Post 16. I am a project manager and producer with a wealth of experience specialising in education projects, creative workshops, conferences and large-scale performance events. I have worked for a wide range of arts organisations, festivals and educational establishments and have played an integral role in launching, coordinating and developing arts programmes locally, nationally and internationally. My experience encompasses all aspects of arts project management from fundraising, developing ideas, recruitment, PR and marketing, budgeting and financial planning to evaluation and review. I am currently the Engagement Director at Bristol Old Vic and leading on their learning, heritage and community strands.
Peter Huckle
Governor Appointed by Members - Term of office 6 May 2021 to 5 May 2025
Vice Chair of Governors
I am a Bristolian with over 42 years experience of teaching in the city. I had the good fortune to work with young people from 4-18, having been a Senior School Deputy Head and ending my career as the Head of a large local Infant and Junior School. As a senior leader, and as the governor of another local school, I have experienced governance from both sides of the table.
I am passionate about education and committed to the benefits of lifelong learning, and engage in regular training with Bristol’s Governor Development Service. Following my father, who was proud to play in Cotham School teams alongside Arthur Milton in the 1940s, I also have a great passion for sport. I had a long career officiating in the world of professional rugby union, working in the Premiership, in Europe and at International matches and am now coaching elite Assistant Referees. I am delighted to have the opportunity to play a part in helping to shape an exciting future for Cotham School and hope to provide significant service and support to the school community.
Rebecca Reid
Parent Governor - Term of office 30 January 2020 to 30 January 2024
Chair of Finance, Premises and General Purposes Committee, Vice Chair of Governors
I'm a Parent Governor, joining Cotham Governors in 2020, bringing a background of working in project management and business improvement in the public sector. I have a son at Cotham, and I feel very privileged to be able to support Cotham in continuing to give our children the opportunities to thrive at school and become active members of our wider community.
RICHARD PUTTICK
Parent Governor - Term of office 30 January 2020 to 30 January 2024
Chair of Audit and Internal Scrutiny Committee
I have recently joined Cotham’s governing body as a parent governor. A few years ago I was Chair of Governors at one of Cotham’s feeder primary schools and found that experience worthwhile as well as challenging. Seeing my daughters grow up and benefit from their education at Cotham has inspired me to look again at what I could contribute to the school. My background is as a consultant in the IT industry, defining and developing complex systems for banks, utilities and retailers in many different countries and cultures. It is good now to be working back in Bristol, as a CIO in government, with the opportunity to put my skills in project management, governance, finance and strategy to more local use.
Sandra Fryer
Co-opted Governor - Term of office 4 October 2021 to 3 October 2025
Chair of Governors
I am passionate about creating positive futures for young people from all backgrounds. As a
governor I have used my skills gained from over 25 years’ director level and non-exec experience, mainly in the public sector, to support the school and enable it to grow into one of the most successful schools in Bristol.
As Chair of Governors, I have drawn on my planning, regeneration and development and managerial experience as a trustee of the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA), Chair of the Board of Blueprint Regeneration, former Planning Committee Member of Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation and former Board Member of Ebbsfleet Garden City and Chair of the Planning Committee. As the Chair of the Bristol Civic Society, I am keen to find ways to engage young people in the future of our great City. Cotham School is an inspiring diverse school, where young people from many different backgrounds thrive, I am proud to play my part in helping make Cotham a great school, a school of sanctuary, a school where students thrive and develop strong foundations for their future careers and contributions to society.
Ian Spencer
Co-opted Governor - Term of office 21 March 2022 to 20 March 2026
My background is in the private sector where I have significant experience in Project management and positively influencing stakeholders. I’m seen as a strategic expert who excels at analysing business ideas from a financial perspective and providing business insights and decision support to create value. A collaborative communicator continually focused on building relationships. I have two teenage children of my own and believe passionately in children having the opportunities that enable them to fulfil their potential.
Sophie Hamilton
Parent Governor - Term of office 23 March 2022 to 22 March 2026
I grew up just outside Bristol and have lived locally since attending Bristol University. I have a daughter at Cotham in Year 12. I know my daughter and her friends are very proud of being at Cotham. I hope as a Parent Governor to support the school in accessing opportunities and creating facilities for all pupils, equal to those of their peers at neighbouring state and private schools. I am a Senior Associate solicitor with over 20 years’ experience, specialising in Claimant Injury claims litigation, so have a particular interest in Health & Safety legislation.
Jared Rufus
Co-opted Governor - Term of office 8 December 2022 to 7 December 2026
I started working at Cotham in 2021 as a science technician, but before that I was a software developer in the financial sector. I know that I wouldn't be the person I am today without the caring teachers and tutors I had growing up. Since arriving at Cotham I've seen how much everybody cares about the students, and I want to support and encourage the student focused education that I've seen in every aspect of life at the school since starting here.
Graham Nutbrown
Co-opted Governor -Term of office 24 October 2022 to 23 October 2026
My two sons attended Cotham and were happily involved with musical performances at the time. My background is as an English teacher in comprehensive schools and as a lecturer in the University of Bath, where I was Director of Studies for the BA. (Hons) Education with Psychology programme. I have a PhD in Philosophy of Education. I am especially interested in teaching and learning and in personnel and training issues. I have previously been a governor at two other Bristol secondary schools, so I know that governors have a significant role to play in monitoring fairness and the quality of education for all students.
Ruth Thomas
Parent Governor - Term of office 27 February 2024 to 26 February 2028
I have recently become a Parent Governor (2024) and have a daughter in Year 7. I have worked as a senior manager for the NHS locally for over twenty years, most recently leading multi-agency partnership working across the NHS, Local Authority and Voluntary and Community sectors, working to improve population health and address health inequalities. I have an interest in how we best ensure good mental health and wellbeing of our staff and pupils, and in how the school culture supports children to develop into happy, well-adjusted adults. I hope my skills and experience can contribute to the school being the best it can be against a backdrop of increasing challenge and complexity.
Jakub Wilczewski
Co-opted Governor - Term of office 20 June to 19 June 2028
I am an Economics and Management student at the University of Bristol, coming down to study from the metropolis called Grantham. Since COVID, I have undertaken multiple youth-centred roles, including mentoring underrepresented students to get into university, being responsible for 300+ children as a leader with the scouts, and taking care of international children at a summer boarding school.
I thoroughly loved my secondary school because it allowed me to pursue my own projects, like starting a school podcast and directing and hosting an interschool charity game show, which have both continued to be run even after my departure. My aim is to make Cotham an environment where students can express themselves freely and encourage them to self-initiate projects for the benefit of the community, just like my secondary school did.
It is a great privilege to serve on the governing board for Cotham School, especially for my age. I hope to bring a unique perspective that might resonate more with the students, having recently left secondary school myself!
Henna Nathwani
Co-opted Governor - Team of office from 19 June 2024 to 18 June 2028
I am the Head of International Qualifications at Pearson School Qualifications and lead my team in the strategy and development of new International GCSE and International A level qualifications tailored to globally minded students. I have worked in the education sector as a teacher, science publisher and in my current role for 12 years.